Typographical composing machine



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TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Filed Dec. 28, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Ill! INVENTOR. lav/.2 foam/r0 ATTORNEYS United States Patent TYPOGRAPHICAL COMPOSING MACHINE Louis Rossetto, Kings Point, N. Y., assignor to Merger:- thaler Linotype Company, a corporation of New York Application December 28, 1954, Serial No. 47 3,07 6

17 Claims. (Cl. 199-27) This invention is directed to certain improvements in the assembling mechanism of typographical composing machines, such as Linotype machines, wherein the matrices, as they are released from a magazine, pass downwardly through a partitioned assembler entrance onto a constantly driven inclined belt which discharges them one after another, in the order of their release, through a chute to an assembler wherein they are composed in line together with expansible spacebands under the influence of a constantly rotating star wheel. After the line is completely composed, the assembler is raised to permit the delivery of the line to the casting mechanism and incidentally inaugurate a machine cycle of operation.

The conventional means of line composition under the control of an operator seated at the keyboard have proved basically satisfactory for many years but, in more recent models, particularly those designed to operate at higher speeds, and wherein the keyboard mechanism as well as the raising and lowering of the assembler are automatically controlled, the time element involved for line composition and elevation to the delivery position has been reduced accordingly. As a result, it is difiicult to carry on composition at the increased speed without interruption, such as that usually caused by a clogging of the assembler at its receiving end whenever a delayed matrix or spaceband happens to be delivered out of time into the rotary path of the star wheel stacker element. At such times, the matrices and spacebands are subjected to random and uncoordinated blows of the star wheel, which cause them to be improperly positioned and frequently result in unwarranted delays.

To overcome these and other difficulties it is proposed according to the present invention to eliminate the constantly rotating star wheel and substitute therefore suitable means whereby the stacking impulse required is timed so as to be etfective at the moment a traveling matrix or spaceband actually obtains its support in the assembling elevator. Accordingly, a horizontal endwise reciprocable slide bar, operated in timed relation to the traveling matrices and spacebands, is employed for stacking them facewise in line along the supporting rails of the assembling elevator. The displacement by the matrices of the regular chute spring, located at the discharge end of the inclined delivery belt, is utilized to close an electrical circuit that will control the engagement and disengagement of a. power driven friction clutch through which the slide bar is operated. In addition, a second displaceable spring element, disposed adjacent the usual spaceband chute, is employed to close the same electrical circuit as it is displaced by the projecting ears of a released spaceband during its gravitational descent into the line and thus likewise control the operation of the slide bar through the medium of said friction clutch. Moreover, and to eliminate any force reaction tending to twist or otherwise alter the direction of travel of the matrices and spa-cebands preparatory to the stacking operation, the slide bar preferably and advantageously is arranged so as to strike an opposed matrix or spaceband at or near its center of percussion.

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Other devices for accomplishing the same results and of diiferent specific forms might readily suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, but still be comprised within the scope or spirit of the present invention. It therefore should be understood that the invention is not limited to any specific form or embodiment except insofar as such limitations are specified in the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Fig. l is a front elevation, partly in section, showing a portion of the assembling mechanism of a Linotype machine equipped with the present improvements, and wherein the reciprocable stacker element is shown in its normal retracted position;

Fig. 2 is an elevation corresponding to a portion of Fig. 1 and showing, on an enlarged scale, the stacker element in its advanced position;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 1 and indicating the manner in which the spring element associated with the spaceband chute is displaced by a descending spaceband; and

Fig. 4 is a detail perspective view indicating the manner in which the spring element of the assembler chute is displaced by a discharged matrix preparatory to its descent into the receiving end of the assembling elevator. A

As previously stated and as best shown in Fig. 1, traveling matrices x, upon their discharge from the lower end of the conveyor belt A, are directed through a chute B into the receiving end of an assembling elevator C wherein they are stacked in line, along with expansible spacebands y, against the upstanding finger d of a line resistant slide D. In the present instance, however, the resilient spring element B which constitutes as usual the upper guide wall of the chute B, is bifurcated longitudinally (Fig. 4) so that it may accommodate the body portions of the matrices descending therethrough and also direct them by their projecting ears x over the convex surface of the lower guide wall B of the chute as they are about to gain their upright position within the elevator C. At such times, the spring element B in yielding under the influence of the traveling matrices as they pass through the chute B, is adapted to close an electrical circuit U which, in turn, will control the operation of means (presently to be described) for stacking the matrices facewise in line along the horizontal supporting rails of the assembling elevator C. The matrix guide element B of the chute B (Fig. 4) is hingedly mounted on a screw stud B which projects forwardly from the channeled face plate A and normally is sustained by a stop pin a, against the tension of a helical spring B in closely spaced relation to the opposed surface of the lower guide wall B As thus arranged, the matrices x in passing through the chute B on their way to assembler C will not only be caused to follow the curvature of the lower guide wall B but they in turn, will cause a slight displacement of the guide element B about its pivot stud B As a result, a contact piece b, projecting upwardly from the hub portion of the element B is adapted at such times to close the electrical control circuit U for the purpose stated.

The space-bands y comprise as usual (Fig. 3) a lower elongated, wedge shaped member y and an upper short correspondingly shaped component y which latter is formed with projecting ears y whereby the spacebands are suspended during their course of travel through the machine from the time they enter the elevator C until they are returned to their usual storage box E. As best shown in Fig. 1, the storage box E is arranged directly above the assembling elevator C and when the spacebands are released therefrom in the course of composition, they are directed endwise into the receiving end of the elevator through the medium of the regular chute E that depends from the storage box. However, and in carrying out the present invention, a second spring element F (Figs.

1 and 3) is positioned adjacent the lower end portion of the spaceband chute E so as to be displaceable by the projecting ears y of the spacebands during their descent into-the elevator C and thus also close the electrical control circuit U. In form and manner of mounting, the spring element P (Fig. 3) is similar to the chute spring element B already described, being hingedly connected at its upper end to a screw stud F and bifurcated at its lower end so as to present a pair of finger-like projections f which are normally disposed in the path of the projecting ears y of a descending spaceband and are spaced the proper distance apart to clear the body portion thereof. The screw stud F like the stud B for the matrix guide element B projects forwardly from the face plate A and the spring element F is sustained yieldingly against a fixed stop pin a under the influence of a suitable helical spring F mounted on said stud. Also, the spring element F, like the corresponding element B is provided with a contact piece f projecting upwardly from its hub portion and adapted to close the electrical circuit U as the element F is displaced by the ears of a descending spaceband just before the latter completes its entry into the elevator C.

In the embodiment illustrated, the means employed for stacking the matrices and spacebands facewise in the assembling elevator C includes a horizontally disposed, reciproca'ble slide bar G operable by the rotation of a disk H secured to one end of a lay shaft I which in turn is driven through the medium of a friction clutch K by a motor L. As clearly indicated in Fig. l, the slide bar G is mounted in suitable supporting members M of the assembler frame and is provided at its leading end with a matrix stacking or pusher element in the form of a head portion g normally located in predetermined spaced relation to the receiving end of the assembler C. The operative connections between the slide bar G and the lay shaft I include an upright rocking lever N hingedly mounted at its lower end on a fixed axis N the disk H on the lay shaft I, and an intermediate connecting link I eccentrically attached to the disk H. Specifically (Fig. 1), the link I is connected to the lever N at a point above its axis, and at its upper extremity said lever is bifurcated or worked so as to engage a stud g projecting laterally from the slide bar G.

The friction clutch K may be of any suitable construction but, as indicated in Fig. 1, comprises two opposing clutch members K and K respectively, the latter being secured to the lay shaft I and the former directly to the shaft of the motor L. In the present instance, the clutch members K and K are normally engaged but to neutralize the power of the clutch at a predetermined moment during the operation of the slide bar G, and pref,- erably at the moment it completes its full reciprocatory movement, means are provided for automatically arresting the driven member K of the clutch as the bar is restored to its normal or retracted position shown in Fig. 1. For this purpose a separate electrical circuit U controlled by the circuit U through the medium of a relay U is employed and includes a solenoid P which is disposed adjacent the clutch K with its core member p normally engaging a tooth-like projection k on the driven clutch member K However, and as a result of this arrangement, when the primary circuit U is closed in the manner already described and the solenoid P energized through the medium of the relay U the core member ,0 thereof will be retracted momentarily out of its engagement with the projection k so as to permit a single rotation of the lay shaft 3 and a full reciprocation of the slide bar G. In this way, the active stroke of the slide 'bar G is timed to take place at the moment the descending matrices or spacebands obtain their individual support on the corresponding rails of the assembling elevator C.v As a result, line composition, is allowed to proceed uninterruptedly and at the required 'speed,

whether the operation of the machine is under manual or automatic control.

In its broader aspects, the invention does not require the use of a reciprocatory stacking element. For example, the stacking element could be of the oscillating type or even of the rotary type, especially if said element (like the bar G) is cyclically operated and comes to rest out of the path of the travelling matrices and spa-cebands. Moreover, the control of the cyclically operated stacking element could be through mechanical means rather than, as preferred, electrical means.

What is claimed is:

l. Assembling mechanism for typographical composing machines including, in combination, an assembling elevator, means for advancing the matrices one after another toward the elevator for composition in line therein, means normally at rest operative to stack the matrices facewise along the supporting rails of the elevator, and periodically actuated means controlled by the individual matrices as they approach the elevator for operating the stacking means.

2. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the assembling mechanism also includes a spaceband storage box from which the spacebands are released periodically during composition for gravitational entrance into the matrix line; and wherein said operating means is also controlled by the descending spacebands as they approach the elevator.

3. A combination according to claim 1, wherein said stacking means includes :a pusher element operated in timed relation to the travelling matrices and the descending spacebands for effecting their advance along the supporting rails of the elevator.

4. Assembling mechanism for typographical composing machines including, in combination, an assembling elevator, a constantly driven conveyor belt for advancing the matrices one after another toward the elevator for composition in line therein, an intermediate chute for directing the matrices downwardly from the conveyor into the. receiving end of the elevator, means normally at rest operative to stack the matrices in line as they enter the elevator, and periodically actuated means controlled by the individual matrices during their passage through the chute for operating the stacking means.

5. A combination according to claim 4, wherein the assembling mechanism also includes a spaceband storage box from which the spacebands are released periodically during composition for gravitational entrance into the .tatrix line; and wherein said operating means is also controlled by the descending spacebands as they approach the elevator.

6. A combination according to claim 5, wherein said stacking means includes a reciprocable pusher element operated in timed relation to the chute directed matrices and the descending spacebands for effecting their facewise advance along the supporting rails of the elevator.

7. A combination according to claim 6 including a power driven, electrically controlled friction clutch for operating the reciprocable pusher element.

8. A combination according to claim 7, wherein the electrical circuit for the friction clutch is controlled by the descending matrices or the released spacebands as they are about to gain their support in the assembling elevator.

9. A combination according to claim 8, wherein said electrical circuit includes means for automatically neutralizing the power of the clutch at the moment the pusher element is restored to its normal or retracted position.

10. A combination according to claim 9, wherein the operation of the reciprocable pusher element to and from its active position is effected by a single revolution of the driven clutch member; and wherein the electrical circuit includes a solenoid operative so as first to release and then positively arrest the driven clutch member against the influence of the driving clutch member.

11. Assembling mechanism for typographical comaeoaeei posing machines including, in combination, an assembling elevator, a constantly driven belt conveyor for advancing the matrices one after another toward the elevator, an intermediate chute for directing the matrices downwardly from the conveyor into the receiving end of the elevator, a spaceband storage box, a chute depending therefrom for directing the spacebands as they are released for endwise gravitational entry into the elevator, a pair of yieldable elements associated with the respective chutes and readily displaceable by the endwise descent of a matrix or spaceband, a reciprocable pusher element normally at rest for effecting the facewise advance of the matrices and spacebands during their composition in line, and periodically actuated means set into action by the displacement of either yieldable chute element for operating the pusher element in timed relation to the entry of the matrices and spacebands into the assembling elevator.

12. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the spacebands are expansible and comprise as usual an upper wedge shaped member formed with projecting ears and a lower wedge shaped member slidably connected thereto; and wherein the displacement of the yieldable element associated with the spaceband chute is effected by the ears of the spacebands at the proper moment during their descent for composition in line.

13. A combination according to claim 11, wherein the matrices are formed as usual with upper and lower projecting ears disposed adjacent their following side faces; and wherein the yieldable element associated with the matrix directing chute is bifurcated so as to clear the body portions of the matrices and is operated by the projecting ears of the matrices during their endwise descent through said chute.

14. A combination according to claim 10, wherein the driven member of the clutch is provided with a toothlike projection and the core of the solenoid is movable into and out of the path of said projection as the electrical circuit controlled by the descending matrices and spacebands is closed and opened, respectively.

15. A combination according to claim 1, wherein the periodically actuated means include a power driven clutch and an electrical circuit controlled by the travelling matrices and the descending spacebands for causing the engagement and disengagement of the clutch.

16. Assembling mechanism for typographical composing machines including, in combination, an assembling elevator, means for advancing the matrices one after another toward the elevator for composition in line therein, a cyclically and periodically operated stacking element normally at rest for advancing the matrices along the supporting rails of the elevator, means for initiating the operation of the stacking element at the moment each matrix arrives at the entrance of the elevator, and a trip element actuated by contact with the individual matrices as they approach the elevator to control the initiating means.

17. Assembling mechanism for typographical composing machines including, in combination, an assembling elevator, means for advancing the matrices and the spacebands one after another toward the elevator for composition in line therein, a cyclically and periodicallyoperated stacking element normally at rest for advancing the matrices and spacebands along the supporting rails of the elevator, means for initiating the operation of the stacking element at the moment each matrix and spaceband arrives at the entrance of the elevator, and two trip elements to control the initiating means, one trip element being actuated by contact with the individual matrices as they approach the elevator, and the other trip element being actuated by contact with the individual spacebands as they approach the elevator.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,277,846 Couch Mar. 31, 1942 2,282,127 Gabbert May 5, 1942 2,693,270 Rossetto Nov. 2, 1954 

